War News for Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Photo: An Iraqi policeman kisses a boy dressed in a tiny uniform at a ceremony marking at the police academy in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Dozens of Iraqi police celebrated in central Baghdad on Wednesday, chanting, dancing and decorating their vehicles to mark the annual National Police Day — only three days after a suicide bombing marred Army Day celebrations. (AP Photo/ Karim Kadim)

More security incidents from yesterday:

TIKRIT - A roadside bomb exploded in the centre of the city of Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, striking a police car and wounding 3 policemen, police said.

SHURA - A roadside bomb exploded in the town of Shura, 50 km (35 miles) south of Mosul, killing one civilian, police said.

BAGHDAD - A police officer and his driver were kidnapped in their car at a checkpoint while travelling from Baghdad to Baquba in Diyala province, police said.

Baghdad - Iraqi security forces killed a gunman, detained 14 wanted suspects and defused seven explosive charges during operations staged in eastern and western Baghdad over the past 24 hours, the spokesman for Baghdad's security plan Fardh al-Qanoon said on Tuesday.

Baghdad – US Department of Defense announced late Tuesday the death of a soldier in Salman Pak, southwest of Baghdad. He died of wounds suffered from small arms fire.

Security Incidents from today:

SALAHUDDIN - Three U.S. soldiers were killed and three wounded during an attack while conducting operations in northern Salahuddin province on Tuesday, the U.S. military said.

Mosul - The third division of the Iraqi army detained Raad Awad Issa, al- Qaeda leader in Sinjar, west of Mosul, army official Muhammad Jiad told Voices of Iraq news agency. Issa, who is believed to be the mastermind of the attack on the Yazidi minority in December, was arrested in the village of Barzan on the border with Syria while he was trying to flee Iraq, the officer said.

MOSUL - U.S. forces said an insurgent killed during a military operation on December 25 had been positively identified as Haydar al-Afri, a senior al Qaeda leader for the western region of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad. Afri was among 27 insurgents killed and 27 detained during the operation in Mosul.

Kirkuk - Two more churches bombed in Iraq - police Two car bombs exploded outside two churches in the volatile northern city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, police said, the latest in a wave of attacks on Christian targets in Iraq this week. Police said three people were wounded in the attacks on the churches in central and northern Kirkuk.

Kirkuk - Five suspected gunmen were arrested by police forces early Wednesday during a security operation north of Kirkuk, a security source said. Another police force defused a bomb in Bardi region in Doubez district. No casualties reported.

Baaquba - At least 20 persons were killed and 10 al-Qaeda gunmen were arrested on Tuesday night in Muqdadiya during Operation Raider Harvest, waged by Iraqi and U.S. forces in the district, the commander of the Diala operations said on Wednesday.

Karbala – 22 suspects arrested and a weapons cache found in Karbala. 6,000 policemen are atop high buildings in Karbala and 22,000 Iraqi soldiers are deployed to man entrances to Karbala ahead of the Ashoura religious festival.

UPDATES:

Baghdad - Police found three anonymous bodies in Baghdad today. Two bodies were found in Rusafa, the eastern side of Baghdad in the following neighborhood (1 body in Shaab and another body in Husseiniyah). The third body was found in Saidiyah in the western side of Baghdad.

Baghdad - An IED exploded targeting an American convoy east Baghdad around 9,15 am. the US army confirmed the news saying that the explosion didn't cause any casualties.

Salahuddin - A gunman from Qaida was killed and two others were arrested when they attacked a check point of the national police in Jbiriyah neighborhood in Samarra city north of Baghdad today afternoon.

Diyala - A policeman was injured when an IED exploded targeting his patrol in Abo Tamor area, part of Khalis town north of Baquba city.

Diyala - Two civilians were injured when gunmen opened fire while they were inside their car in Abo Saida intersection east Baquba today afternoon.

Diyala - Four civilians were injured when an IED exploded inside Baquba market downtown Baquba city today afternoon.

Six US soldiers killed in booby-trapped house in Iraq. The military said four US soldiers were also wounded in the explosion. This happened in Diyala province, where US and Iraqi forces have launched a major operation.